With the Schedule released today, I figured it would be a good time to start the thread.

The NBA released its 2013-2014 schedule on Tuesday in a televised special on NBATV alongside a release on NBA.com and its team websites.

The season kicks off Tuesday, October 29th as Miami hosts the Chicago Bulls in Derrick Rose's expected return to the court. Then it's the Battle of LA as the Lakers host the Clippers. It could be the return of Kobe Bryant from his Achilles injury he suffered last spring, and will be the regular season debut of Doc Rivers as the Clippers' newest head coach.

It's a massive gamble by the NBA, considering Rose's struggles returning from his ACL injury suffered in the 2012 playoffs and Bryant's more recent Achilles surgery. If those players were to miss the opening night, it's going to make for a very underwhelming opening night of basketball, regardless of the markets involved for ratings.

Opening week continues on Thursday with the Bulls hosting the Knicks in what is likely to be Rose's return to the United Center in the regular season. The Knicks will be on a back to back, opening the season on Wednesday vs. the Bucks. Thursday night the revamped Warriors visit the Clippers, who are clearly the hot team, with two national appearances in the first three days.

Opening week concludes Friday with the Nets' home opener vs. the Heat, followed by another Lakers home game, this time vs. the defending Western Conference Champion San Antonio Spurs.

On the NBA's biggest regular season day, Christmas Day, starts with the Nets hosting Chicago, followed by the scoring-champ rematch of Carmelo Anthony vs. Kevin Durant as the Thunder visit Madison Square Garden to face the Knicks. Then in the main event, the Heat play the Lakers at Staples Center. Dwight Howard joins the Christmas fun as the Rockets travel to San Antonio to face the Spurs. And in the night cap, the Clippers visit Oracle Arena to take on Steph Curry and the Warriors.

Monday, January 20th continues the NBA's tradition of making Martin Luther King Jr. Day a huge basketball event, with four games on the schedule. Brooklyn travels across the bridge to take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, followed by the Grizzlies hosting the Pelicans, the Lakers taking on the Bulls at the United Center, and the Pacers facing the Warriors in the bay to cap off the night.

The Lakers first meet Dwight Howard on November 13th in Houston, and again on January 14th. They first host Howard at Staples Center on February 19th, and again on April 8th.

The NBA Finals rematches occur on January 26th in Miami and March 6th in San Antonio. Will Gregg Popovich rest his starters? It's not a back to back, as the Spurs face Atlanta on the 24th, but it is in the middle of a three-game road trip.

Despite the departure of Dwight Howard, the Lakers keep the max number of nationally televised (non-NBA TV) games in the league at 25, tied with the Knicks and Heat. The Clippers have 21 nationally televised games, while the defending Western Champs, the Spurs, only have 15. The Bulls jump to 24 national games, with the league banking on Rose's return to carry audiences. The Thunder also feature on national TV 24 times.

Houston, with newly-signed Dwight Howard and James Harden, feature 20 games on national television, a pretty low number given the star power. The Mavericks won the NBA title in 2011, and now have just eight national TV appearances. The Warriors meanwhile jump to 17 games, while Eastern Conference finalist Indiana only appears 10 time next season. To put that in perspective, the Denver Nuggets appear 13 times.

BTW I think it's pretty evident that Thabo Sefalosha is more valuable than even I give him credit for. You never notice until hes out for an extended number of games. Both times it"s happened the Thunder have gone to shit. Even when the all mighty James Harden was in town. If thry can't re-sign him they better find someone like him.

Well, that was our worst game of the season by a country mile, without Crawford and Granger available, and it was still a close game in the 4th. I still think a fully healthy Clippers team can beat OKC in the playoffs.

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Disclaimer: my username refers to the SAN DIEGO Chargers only. I will never cheer for the LA Chargers as long as the Spanos family owns the team.

Well, that was our worst game of the season by a country mile, without Crawford and Granger available, and it was still a close game in the 4th. I still think a fully healthy Clippers team can beat OKC in the playoffs.

If the Raptors remain the #3 seed (which I'm hoping for, but it may take winning out the last 4), you could argue that either team would rather be the #2 seed than the #1. They'd be an easier 2nd round matchup.

I still think it is more important for the Pacers to be the #1 seed because I don't think they can go on the road in Game 7 to beat the Heat. Miami can go anywhere and win Game 7 because they have the best player in the world.

Well, that was our worst game of the season by a country mile, without Crawford and Granger available, and it was still a close game in the 4th. I still think a fully healthy Clippers team can beat OKC in the playoffs.

It will be a very competive series. Doc has whipped that team in shape. I would favor the Thunder, but the Clippers can definately win. However, I think they would have a slim chance of beating SA.

Crawford will make a difference, but I wouldn't count on Granger. Dude can't stay healthy.

Well, that was our worst game of the season by a country mile, without Crawford and Granger available, and it was still a close game in the 4th. I still think a fully healthy Clippers team can beat OKC in the playoffs.

Why are you making excuses? Teams play without injured players all the time. You think it only happens to your team? What comes around goes around and it usually evens out. Case in point, didn't your Clippers go down to Houston last week and beat down the Rockets (again) without Howard and Beverly and a gimpy Jones? We just took it like all the other times the Clippers beat the Rockets this season and hope we fare better if we play again. Making excuses is lame.

FWIW, I think your right in that a healthy Clippers team can beat OKC in a series, but don't count on being at full strength throughout the playoffs - Not with Granger.